The 2024 North Bund Forum, an annual gathering of the international shipping industry, began at the Grand Halls in Shanghai on Oct 22. Themed "Digital, Smart, and Green: Co-creating a New Ecosystem of Global Shipping and Aviation", the three-day event has brought together 150 representatives from leading global maritime and aviation enterprises and institutions to delve into the future trajectory of the industry and bolster exchange and collaboration within the international shipping sector.

Co-hosted by the Shanghai Municipal People's Government and the Ministry of Transport, the forum encompasses an opening ceremony, two main forums, and five thematic forums, all geared toward fostering dialogue, sharing experiences and achievements, exploring synergies, and nurturing mutually beneficial partnerships.

During the opening ceremony, the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government signed a "Memorandum of Cooperation on Building a Global Leading International Shipping Center". This agreement outlines joint initiatives in port construction, elevating shipping service capabilities, promoting sustainable and intelligent development within the shipping industry, enhancing the influence of the Shanghai International Shipping Center, and fortifying collaborative organizational support to collectively establish a preeminent global international shipping hub.

The two main forums in the afternoon of Oct 22 focused on themes such as navigating high-quality development in the shipping industry amid uncertainties and steering the digital and intelligent transformation of civil aviation, respectively. While in the following two days, the forum features five thematic discussions on maritime traffic safety, finance and insurance, digitalization and intelligence, green and low-carbon initiatives, as well as legal affairs and arbitration.

Hu Hao, a professor at the School of Ocean and Civil Engineering of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, emphasized the importance of China playing a more active role in shaping international maritime regulations. He highlighted the recent establishment of a joint research center for international maritime rules and standards by China COSCO Shipping Corporation and the university, expressing hopes for increased collaboration with international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization.

Sandy Chan, managing director of the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, underscored the immense potential for collaboration between Shanghai Port and Hong Kong Port in the realm of green shipping, emphasizing the need for unified standards and testing protocols for green energy applications globally. She emphasized that by jointly addressing rulemaking in this area, both ports can not only benefit China but also contribute to the broader global community.

Chan further noted the complementary strengths of Shanghai and Hong Kong in ensuring the safe operation of green vessels, with Shanghai providing skilled professionals and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region excelling in ship management. This collaboration, she believes, can pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient future in the shipping industry, benefiting not only the two ports but the entire international maritime sector.

Gu Yingjie contributed to this story.